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   Last Update 19 May 2010 | ||||
Meet Our Management Team:
Lori E. Musa-Ford, Global Program Director, Mentor, USA Montessori & Global Program Director, Centre de la Famille Montessori (a division of USA Montessori)--Princeton, New Jersey, USA Ms. Musa-Ford founded USA Montessori during her graduate school work and subsequent Master's thesis titled, "Examination of Distance Education for the Betterment of Early Childhood Education Globally (Based on Montessori Principles)." With a team of Ph.D. advisors, the foundation was laid for an online training program that would melt away socioeconomic borders, making the Montessori educational model available to remote reaches of the globe, limited only by Internet access. Since then, the program has proudly served many developing countries and schools represe Ms. Musa-Ford holds an M.A. in Education, Thomas Edison State College, New Jersey, USA; Formal AMS Lower Elementary Teacher Training with Princeton Center for Teacher Education, Princeton, New Jersey, USA; B.S. Child Developmental Psychology, Thomas Edison State College, New Jersey, USA; A.S. Social Sciences, Monroe Junior College, Monroe, Michigan, USA; as well as WCLS Certification as an Instructor of the Developmentally Disabled Population; and regional Practical Nurse Licensure, Madonna University, Livonia, Michigan, USA. Ms. Musa-Ford has served as the Program Director of USA Montessori since its inception in 2003. You may contact Ms. Musa-Ford at: lori.director@usamontessori.org or Call our Princeton Office Toll-Free at 866-921-8960
Ms. Escanillas joined our team with an M.A. in Education/Educational Management from Della Salle University-Dasma, Philippines; a B.S. in Physical Therapy from Fatima University, Philippines; Completion of the Primary Montessori Teacher Training Program, World Wide Montessori Online; and holds Certificates of Completion as an exemplary student of both Peace Education and Montessori Philosophy provided by USA Montessori, eCampus. Ms. Escanillas' teaching experience spans both children and adults alike including providing instruction in Peace Education for USA Montessori as well as current Head of School of the World-Class Montessori school, Greenville Montessori, Indonesia. An advocate of quality Early Childhood Education, Ms. Escanillas has attended international workshops and conferences such as the Pro-Literacy America ESOL Tutor Workshop, Florida Division of Community Colleges; Building a World Class Montessori School: Turning Dreams into Reality, The International Montessori Council; and the Geneva Centre for Autism – Mentorship e-Learning Course. You may contact Ms. Escanillas at: gayla.escanillas@usamontessori.org
Rebecca Paden, Global Student Services Specialist, USA Montessori--Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA Ms. Paden joined our team with a background rich in civic duty, dedication to community and boundless expertise and creativity following years of child advocacy in education. Both a designer and founder of many children's alternative educational programs, Ms. Paden has paved the way for educational reform and enlightenment in her community. A trained paramedic, Ms. Paden shifted to academia in the 90s when traditional education had all but given up on her son. Determined, Ms. Paden conducted intensive research into educational philosophy and practices in an effort to serve her own children (all four of whom she ended up homeschooling). Ms. Paden's unwavering spirit and "stop at nothing" attitude led her to discover the Montessori method, which she credits for reversing her son's learning challenges; erasing her daughter's behavioral challenges; and being a guiding light for her whole family. Ms. Paden is the first to acknowledge that the Montessori method is more than an educational philosophy; it is a way of life. She embraces the humanitarian and peace-promoting messages of Montessori by taking matter into her own hands; Ms. Paden is a community service leader spreading philanthropy and love for humankind in senior centers, homeless shelters, hospitals, food pantries and animal shelters. Ms. Paden is also credited with founding "Geo-Science", a hands-on learning program that engages students in science based on principles that echo that of Dr. Maria Montessori, as well as Greenville Academy. A true pioneer in the field of education, Ms. Paden has enriched and enlightened us with her tried-and-true techniques for reaching, and educating, the holistic child. Ms. Paden models the Montessori philosophy in her everyday life as a mother of four wonderful children, and an educator at D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Early Education Center, Georgia, US. You may contact Ms. Paden at rebecca.paden@usamontessori.org
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Maria Gayla Escanillas, Global Academic Coordinator, USA Montessori & Managing Director, Centre de la Famille Montessori (a division of USA Montessori)--Indonesian Extension, Makassar, Indonesia 